Gate-latch



(No 'Mde1.)

V111. HODEL.

n GATE LATCH.

10.572,638. Patented 1390.8,18-96` UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.v

HENRY HODEL, OF CONGERVILLE, ILLINOIS.

GATE# LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,638, dated December 8, 1 896. Application iiled August 6, 1896. Serial No. 601,913. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that 1, HENRY HODEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at (longerville, in the county of Woodford and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latches for Tilting Gates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in gate-latches, and es- V pecially to an automatically-operatin g device designed for use especially on tilting gates, and so arranged that when it is desired to open the gate the pivoted swinging levers will cause a latch-bar to be slightly raised, which latter actuates a pivoted catch carried near the end of the gate, and which catch normally engages under a cleat or other attachment on an adjacent post, thus securely locking the gate from being tilted until the latch is iirst released, after which the gate is raised or tilted to an upright position.'

To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain the same consists, further, in the novel construction, combination,

- and adaptation of the parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

I clearly illustrate my invention in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which drawings similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure l is a perspective View of a gate equipped with my improved latch. Fig. 2 is a side eleva-tion of the locking-gate post; Fig. 3, an enlarged detail view of the latch, showing its manner of attachment to the end of a gate-bar. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the pivoted gate-bar, showing the latch fastened to one end thereof.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates a tilting gate which is Vmounted on a shaft B', journaled in the upright posts C, the said gate being adapted to tilt back between the two Vertical or upright posts C. At the upper ends of the posts C is a cross-piece D, to which are pivoted the levers E, to the outer ends of which are connected the handles F, while at their opposite ends are pivoted the rods G, the lower ends of which rods are connected to the eyes h of the bracket H, which is mounted in the rear end of the bar K, carried between any two of the longitudinal gate-` strips, as M M, and the said bracket H is journaled in the side strips H. The portion of the bracket which passes through the bar K may be flattened or squared, so as to prevent any turning of the same in the aperture in the bar K. At the forward end of the bar K is slidingly held one end of the angle-catch R in an elongated loop r on a pin r', while the angle of the said catch is pivoted on the .pin s between the upright strips of the end of the gate. The free end of the catch is bent in hook shape, as seen at S, and the curved portion of said hook-shaped end is adapted to rest under a cleat Q on a gate-post Q' when the gate is in a locked relation.

The operation of the device is as follows: When it is desired to open the gate, the operator takes hold of a handle F, and, pulling down on same, causes the rods G to be raised, and with them the arm of the bracket H. As the said bracket turns in its bearings the forward end of the bar K will be caused to rise, and as it rises the end of the catch having the elongated aperture will slide on the upper side of the said bar, and then the catch will be tilted andthe hooked end be thrown back between the vertical end strips of the gate, so as to clear the cleat when the gate is opened, which latter movement is effected by the operator pulling down on the handle F, which, through its connections, causes the bracket H to turn, and with it the forward end of the bar K to rise against the under side of a bar M, and the gate is tilted to an upright position.

Vhen it is desired to close the gate, a similar operation of pulling down on the handle F is repeated, and after the gate passes its balancingpoint it will fall by gravity and the catch will automatically lock, as will be readily seen.

Having thus described'my invention, what I claim to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Pat-ent, is i l. In combination with a tilting gate, a bar IOO With operating-handles E, the bar K mounted on and turning With the said bracket, and the catch R pivoted to the free end of the gate and having one end looped and Working over a pin on the end of the said bar, a hooked portion of the said catch being adapted to eX- tend beyond the end of the gate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HENRY HODEL.

Witnesses:

S. A. PLANK, ABE LANTZ. 

